The 2024 season opener at Raymond James Stadium was more than just a game; it was a collision between the established efficiency of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the highly anticipated “new era” of the Washington Commanders. In a contest where the Washington Commanders vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Match Player Stats highlighted a significant gap in defensive execution, Baker Mayfield looked like an early MVP candidate, throwing four touchdowns to lead the three-time defending NFC South champions to a convincing victory. While Washington fans caught glimpses of rookie Jayden Daniels’ electric potential, Tampa Bay proved that their veteran core is still the gold standard in the division.
The Stakes: A Fresh Start vs. Seasoned Strength
The narrative entering Week 1 was all about Jayden Daniels. The No. 2 overall pick was making his professional debut under a revamped coaching staff led by Dan Quinn. For the Commanders, the game was a baseline test to see how far their roster had come from a 4-13 campaign. For the Buccaneers, the stakes involved silencing critics who doubted they could repeat their 2023 success. The washington commanders vs tampa bay buccaneers match player stats would eventually show that while Washington has found its quarterback of the future, they still have work to do on a defense that struggled to get off the field.
Game Flow Narrative: Mayfield Takes Command
The Buccaneers established dominance from the opening whistle. Tampa Bay scored on nearly every possession, building a 16-7 halftime lead fueled by three field goals from Chase McLaughlin and a 17-yard touchdown strike to Mike Evans. Washington stayed within striking distance thanks to a 7-yard rushing score by Brian Robinson Jr., but the second half belonged to Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield found Chris Godwin, rookie Jalen McMillan, and Evans (again) for touchdowns in the second half. Washington’s defense was plagued by the same issues that haunted them in 2023: third-down conversions and explosive plays. Despite two rushing touchdowns from Daniels in the second half, the Commanders could never close the gap as Tampa Bay converted a staggering 69% of their third downs.
Quick Game Facts
- Final Score: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 37, Washington Commanders 20
- Date & Location: September 8, 2024 | Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL)
- Weather: 91°F, Humid
- Attendance: 65,422
- Time of Possession: Buccaneers (33:41) | Commanders (26:19)
The Statistical Core: Washington Commanders vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers Match Player Stats
Top Performers Comparison
| Category | Washington Commanders | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Passer | Jayden Daniels (184 Yds) | Baker Mayfield (289 Yds) |
| Rusher | Jayden Daniels (88 Yds, 2 TD) | Bucky Irving (62 Yds) |
| Receiver | Austin Ekeler (52 Yds) | Chris Godwin (83 Yds) |
| Tackler | Bobby Wagner (10 Tot, 3 TFL) | Jordan Whitehead (8 Tot) |
Team Efficiency Table
| Metric | Washington Commanders | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| First Downs | 22 | 22 |
| Total Yards | 299 | 392 |
| Passing Yards | 161 | 280 |
| Rushing Yards | 138 | 112 |
| 3rd Down Conv % | 25.0% (2/8) | 69.2% (9/13) |
| Red Zone Eff | 3-for-3 (100%) | 3-for-4 (75%) |
| Penalties | 7-51 | 7-46 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 0 |
The Quarterback Masterclass
Baker Mayfield: Pure Efficiency
Mayfield’s entry in the washington commanders vs tampa bay buccaneers match player stats was nearly flawless. He completed 24 of 30 passes for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns, recording a massive 146.4 passer rating. Mayfield picked apart the Washington secondary, particularly targeting the mismatch with Mike Evans in the red zone. His 65.2% success rate was his highest since joining the Buccaneers.
Jayden Daniels: A Historic Debut
Despite the loss, Jayden Daniels made NFL history, becoming the first rookie quarterback to rush for 80+ yards and 2 touchdowns in his debut. While his passing numbers were modest (184 yards), he showed incredible poise under pressure, avoiding turnovers and often using his legs to salvage broken plays. He led the team in rushing with 88 yards, proving he is a dual-threat nightmare for future opponents.
QB Stat Comparison
| Player | Comp/Att | Yards | TD/INT | Sacks | Rating | Rush Yds |
| Baker Mayfield | 24/30 | 289 | 4/0 | 1 | 146.4 | 21 |
| Jayden Daniels | 17/24 | 184 | 0/0 | 2 | 93.1 | 88 |
Positional Deep Dives
The Ground War: Rushing Stats
The Commanders actually out-rushed the Buccaneers, but Tampa’s rookie Bucky Irving showed flashes of being a future star with a 6.9 yards-per-carry average.
| Player | Carries | Yards | Avg | TD | Long |
| Jayden Daniels (WAS) | 16 | 88 | 5.5 | 2 | 17 |
| Bucky Irving (TB) | 9 | 62 | 6.9 | 0 | 31 |
| Brian Robinson Jr. (WAS) | 12 | 40 | 3.3 | 1 | 7 |
| Rachaad White (TB) | 15 | 31 | 2.1 | 0 | 15 |
The Aerial Attack: Receiving Stats
The washington commanders vs tampa bay buccaneers match player stats reveal that Tampa Bay’s wideout duo remains the league’s most underrated. Chris Godwin and Mike Evans combined for 144 yards and 3 touchdowns.
| Player | Targets | Rec | Yards | TD | YPR |
| Chris Godwin (TB) | 8 | 8 | 83 | 1 | 10.4 |
| Rachaad White (TB) | 6 | 6 | 75 | 0 | 12.5 |
| Mike Evans (TB) | 6 | 5 | 61 | 2 | 12.2 |
| Austin Ekeler (WAS) | 4 | 4 | 52 | 0 | 13.0 |
The Defensive Wall
Defensive Player of the Game: Bobby Wagner (WAS)
In his Washington debut, Wagner lived up to his Hall of Fame billing with 10 tackles and 3 tackles for loss. However, the Commanders’ secondary struggled to keep pace, allowing 9.3 yards per pass attempt. For the Bucs, Jordan Whitehead and Jamel Dean provided solid coverage that forced Daniels to check down most of the afternoon.
Advanced Metrics & “The Why”
The defining metric in the washington commanders vs tampa bay buccaneers match player stats was 3rd Down Success Rate. Tampa Bay’s 69.2% conversion rate allowed them to sustain long, soul-crushing drives that kept the ball away from Jayden Daniels. This forced Washington into a “catch-up” mode where they couldn’t lean on their ground game effectively.
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The Verdict
The Buccaneers are exactly who we thought they were: a disciplined, high-IQ team that doesn’t beat itself. For Washington, the loss is a growing pain. The talent is there—especially in the backfield—but the defensive secondary and third-down discipline must improve for them to compete in the NFC East.
FAQ Section
Who won the Washington Commanders vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers match?
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers won the match 37-20 on September 8, 2024.
What was the turning point of the game?
The turning point was Mayfield’s 32-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan on 3rd-and-7 at the start of the 4th quarter. This gave Tampa Bay a 30-14 lead and effectively snuffed out Washington’s momentum.
How many yards did Jayden Daniels have?
In the washington commanders vs tampa bay buccaneers match player stats, Jayden Daniels recorded 184 passing yards and 88 rushing yards, with 2 rushing touchdowns.
Would you like me to analyze the Commanders’ upcoming schedule to see where they can bounce back, or perhaps break down the Buccaneers’ offensive success against Dan Quinn’s new defensive scheme?
